Can’t slip anything by you guys. Some of you have already noticed the TTAC Staff byline. Popular theories so far have ranged from sweatshop labor in an overseas basement to the sub rosa return of valued former editor-in-staff Bertel Schmitt. They’re all wrong.

We’re trying to bring readers a greater variety of news and information. To do that, we have a brand-new rotating staff of writers who submit topical content to Derek on a daily basis. We are asking these writers to adhere to certain standards, some of which were laid out in the changing-of-the-guard post on Friday. No polarizing political stuff, no trollin’, no blood/gore/religion/opinions-on-the-proper-shade-of-brown.

Where you see the “TTAC Staff” byline, you can assume that the content is intended to meet some fairly specific internal standards. If it doesn’t meet those standards, feel free to say so in the comments and I will address your concern with the author. If you would like to join the “TTAC Staff”, there’s a possibility that we have an opening — but you will need a high tolerance for abuse, correction, and the album “Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son”. So let us know.

Since your last round of hiring a while back, I’ve been looking at more at TTAC and still prefer it over Jalopnik. Even in the time spent here adding to the comments, I’m still not sure I’d really be able to add anything to the staff even though certain network connections thought otherwise.

As it is, my own blog has slowed because of… well, I’m not really sure what’s changed. It can’t be a disinterest in cars, as I’ve not stopped spending my free time (and not-so-free time) with car stuff running through my mouth or fingers. Maybe I’m a little bored with what’s out there, or I’m not sure where I really like the idea of writing anymore (if anywhere). The blog in particular seems like one more penniless project with hopes it’ll get somewhere, and it’s wearing down my drive while my spirit is dragged down in other ways that need not be mentioned.

That and the staff being so far apart kinda helps. Having everyone in the same locations (hello big magazines, /Drive or whatever it’s called on Youtube, etc.) kinda breaks things up well. Otherwise you’re listening to a bunch of Angelino’s, New Yorkers, or someone in the Detroit area without much else.

If TTAC keeps losing members, eventually I’ll be in charge and I’ll replace all the articles with 0-60, 0-quarter and 0-top speed videos.
We’ll do simple drag races of stock vehicles.
Your viewership will go up considerably.

IN FACT, I think TTAC could benefit from embracing Youtube and allowing readers to upload a short video about what they love/hate about their car – even posting their vehicle’s stock 0-60-quarter performance. I’ve encouraged people to post videos of their cars on my Youtube channel in fact so I can keep my content (and $) flowing.

I have considerable access to cars here due to my occupation. I was one of the first people with a Model S video on Youtube that wasn’t an advertisement in disguise. All my videos are PURE emotion LOL.

As for Bertel, I offered content and he said no. He labeled me a troll and tried to vote me off the island ONLY TO GET VOTED OFF THE ISLAND.

DON’T BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU.

Keep in mind, I’ve contributed to TTAC before back in the Farago days: (back when I used the name Flashpoint)

Youtube advertises HEAVILY on pages with a large amount of regular traffic. I’m seeing almost 30,000 views per day divied up between my videos. The advertisement from GOOGLE ADSENSE pays $0.10 or so per view and more when people click ads.

I’m seeing $500 checks BRO… direct deposited every 22nd of the month – by the time I wake up.

Not sure how you get access to the cars, but power to you for posting your videos and making some cash off them. I can’t say it’s for me, but your style and commentary definitely caters to a certain population.

Here’s a novel idea bigtruckseries yada yada: the website Bangshift.com loves to go fast in a straight line. You’d really like it there.

I’ll pass on the youtube videos. I prefer reading rather than waiting for a video to buffer, being assaulted by advertising and the general amateurishness inherit in the media, though I do have a weakness for Mighty Car Mods (they’re utterly without ego). I don’t wish to monetize your channel when I can just as easily monetize my own.

Also, you describe yourself as a troll. I know the axiom “don’t feed the trolls” is apt, but I’m pleading with you: if TTAC’s new methodology is to not ban users, could you perhaps develop a passion for Bangshift?

I really don’t see what is so bad about BTS’s contributions here. They’re certainly not as bad as attempts to bully people away from TTAC. He doesn’t like the same cars you do, or that I do. So what? If you don’t like reading his stuff, don’t read it. It isn’t like he’s a paid shill or an imbecile. He’s just an opinionated guy on a forum where people get to express their opinions.

I only chimed in because he’s a self-described troll. If you look over my history of TTAC comments you’ll see I try hard to not hammer people with my ball-peen opinions but I admit I’ve little patience for outsized egos, a hallmark of people who stamp themselves with the sobriquet of “troll”.

So you are the ones who ended up with the roomful of gnomes after I left my last job; I kept them chained to their desks doing find-and-replace in my databases for me, while feeding them nothing but peanuts and Coke in little plastic cups. A crabby little bunch, I have no idea why; it was a better life than standing in the garden in the hot sun while fending off dogs and cats.

“Caroline” called from Bangalore call center #3. Her real name is Kavita, she drives a Ford Ecosport, and she wants both a byline and payment for her article “Why Right-Hand Drive Rocks the Commonwealth.”

Congratulations on the new direction for TTAC.
However I might suggest you change the “Housekeeping” header for this type of article.
Whenever I saw that word heading an article it usually meant that there was going to be excessive introspection followed by someone getting banned, threats and more rules.

I would be happy to never see the word Housekeeping on this site again

Derek and I are accountable for this content. If you must, simply envision Derek’s name floating above it on the page. (I’m mostly saying this to upset Derek.)

As a writer, I cannot STAND being told to hew to a particular line. The purpose of the TTAC Staff byline is, in part, to keep writers from being upset if we rip out an entire paragraph about how FAIL WHEEL DRIVE SHOULD DIE or SPEED CAMERAS ARE SATANIC DEVICES.

Looks like it uses a variety of applicators from a pump-fed system to art store variety felt tips. Doesn’t get quite the extreme thick/thin Gothic in its Bibel script as a broad-nibbed pen but still very handsome.

Until TTAC finally breaks down and hires a copy editor, it won’t be difficult to tell whose work you’re reading. All of the editors and contributors have characteristic styles that incorporate “custom” grammar and punctuation — especially punctuation. For longtime readers, it identifies a writer just as surely as a byline.